Chennai| At Little Flower Convent, you can now shop for exquisite handcrafted lace products

Visually-impaired artisans engaged on creating new garments on the Little Flower Convent
| Photograph Credit score: VELANKANNI RAJ B

For over 30 years within the southern city of Mulagumoodu in Kanyakumari, Sornam and Annama have spent their days bent over wood frames on the Toddler Jesus Technical and Instructional Institute. An initiative of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Coronary heart of Mary, it’s right here that the duo and a whole bunch of others earlier than them learnt convent embroidery, a type of craftwork that entails creating beautiful patterns with threads, drawing from design playing cards with the Tamil phrases ‘vadakku’, ‘merku’, ‘therku’, ‘kizhakku’ neatly written on them. Following these easy cardinal factors creates filigree lace flowers, vine and jaali work that discover their method into extraordinary craft items just like the Bruges lace sari.

A view of the craftwork on show
| Photograph Credit score:
VELANKANNI RAJ B

With the opening of a devoted area on the Little Flower Convent in Chennai, the work of those artisans practising a slowly vanishing craft, is now accessible by means of the 12 months. “We, the ICM Sisters, have opened a room to show not simply what the lace and embroidery artisans create, but in addition handwoven merchandise by visually-impaired girls. You aren’t shopping for a product, however moderately supporting an artisan. Earlier, we used to carry exhibitions every year to showcase their work. However now, the work is for buy all by means of the 12 months in a single area,” says Sister Dominic Mary of the Little Flower Convent in Chennai.

Among the many merchandise, the one pink lace Bruges sari that we’re sitting round, is actually a dialog piece, or moderately a connoisseur’s merchandise. It’s a reflection of method, and craftsmanship; each thread is whimsical, and carries a classic story with it.

“To provide a single such sari takes six months and 29 girls working eight hours a day. If it’s an pressing order, it should take 5 months to supply a lacework sari and for that the ladies work greater than eight hours every day,” explains Sister M Arul Sahaya Selvi who oversees the Mulagumoodu venture. The fragile lacework and embroidery by these girls, additionally make it to frocks, attire, saris, handkerchiefs, napkins, desk material and mats, coasters and even mattress linen.

A visually-impaired artisan weaves material
| Photograph Credit score:
VELANKANNI RAJ B

Began by two Belgian nuns Mom Marie Louise De Meester and Mom Marie Ursule in 1897, there have been at the very least 1,000 girls again then studying and incomes a livelihood by means of convent embroidery, explains Sister Arul. “The programme was designed for orphaned women and shortly the village girls additionally enrolled within the coaching programme. The nuns would take completed items on their travels and assist retail it for them,” she says.

At this time, the variety of girls practising it has dwindled to simply over 100. Sister A Mercy who additionally learnt the ability from a Belgian nun immediately manages the Palliyadi and Kulasekharam centres in Kanyakumari district. She has educated over 3,500 girls since 1964 and elaborates, “these girls have been educated in hand embroidery, reduce work known as Richelieu, bobbin lace, Bruges lace, carrickmacross, petit level work, shadow work and smocking.” The 81-year-old instructor and mentor reveals that the Srivilliputhur centre in Virudhunagar district has been shut down.

“To be taught this craft you want time, persistence and focus. It’s labour intensive and never many ladies nowadays wish to be taught it,” provides Sister Arul. “This craft wants undivided consideration.On a median the ladies nonetheless practising it are 40 years and above.”

Visually impaired artisans on the Little Flower Convent
| Photograph Credit score:
VELANKANNI RAJ B

The Authorities has issued artisan ID playing cards to those girls, as soon as once more reiterating that this can be a craft of the previous that wants help to maintain. “The ladies are paid by the piece,” says Sister Dominic.

That uncommon pink Bruges sari is probably the one piece within the nation; and reality be advised, with the decline within the variety of lace and embroidery artisans, it might be the previous couple of Bruges lace saris accessible this century. So, who’s going to take it residence?

Obtainable at Little Flower Convent, College for the Blind and the Deaf, 4, GN Street (Close to Gemini/Anna Flyover). Between 10am and 5pm.